'Elder' can refer to someone older or more senior in various contexts, while 'Elderly' specifically characterizes individuals in their later years and may imply a degree of frailty.
Although there are different ways to classify this population, some studies have classified elderly adults between the ages of 65 and 74 years as youngest-old, those between ages 75 and 84 years as middle-old, and those aged over 85 years as oldest-old 5.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines an “older adult” as someone at least 60 years of age,2 while the National Institute on Aging uses 65 years of age.
As with most things, the answer varies depending on the situation. Pennsylvania residents begin their consideration for age-based social services by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging at age 60.
“Elder” is also used as an adjective to call a brother or sister older than a person, e. g. “He is my elder brother.” “The elderly” means a general group of people of advanced age. “Elderly” is also used as a polite adjective for “old” relatives, e. g. “He is nearly 50; he has elderly parents”.
Elder and older are both adjectives that mean "more advanced in age." Older can be used of people and things ('an older sibling;' 'an older house'), but elder can only be used of people ('the elder son'). Additionally, elder can be used as a noun ('respect your elders').
Terms like seniors, elderly, the aged, aging dependents, old-old, young-old, and similar “othering” terms connote a stereotype, avoid using them. Terms such as older persons, older people, older adults, older patients, older individuals, persons 65 years and older, or the older population are preferred.
The National Institute on Aging generally describes older adults as people age 65 or older, however, definitions of older adulthood vary.
AAAs coordinate and offer services that help older adults remain in their homes, if that is their preference, aided by services such as home-delivered meals, homemaker assistance, and whatever else it may take to make independent living a viable option.
The Elder Justice Act defines elder abuse as the knowing infliction of physical or psychological harm or the knowing deprivation of goods or services that are necessary to meet essential needs or to avoid physical or psychological harm. “Elder” means an individual age 60 or older.